CNBC Disruptor 50: Tech companies that dominate

From revolutionary websites and apps to cloud-based services, tech-related firms, many with consumer-focused goals in mind, dominate the second annual CNBC Disruptor 50 list.

After disrupting the street taxi-hailing norm, Uber appeared on taxi riders' radars. The ride-sharing site and app recently saw a 850 percent increase in sign-ups, earlier this month, following a London taxi union strike.

Etsy as well as Kickstarter—sites that connect artisans, inventors and budding companies with shoppers and supporters—have also disrupted the more traditional concepts of shopping and crowdfunding by helping to give start-ups a boost, and in some casespiqued the interest of major investors.

These sites aren't just for consumers belonging to the millennial generation. In fact, millennials would actually rather shop at a mall instead of online, according to a recent study, which suggests that an older set of shoppers might prefer online retailers.

And one of the most well-known companies focused on cloud storage, DropBox, refuses to languish as a family photo gateway in desktop icon form. DropBox has been on a buying spree, recently acquiring data analysis software company Parastructure in a possible move toward more enterprise-focused offerings.

Another cloud-related disruptor, particularly feared by the television industry is Aereo, a service that allows users to view live television online without paying fees to a cable or satellite company. Not surprisingly, this particular industry disruptor is set to face major media companies in the Supreme Court later this month.

—By CNBC's Althea Chang

The List

1. SpaceXThe company that wants to send you to space and colonize Mars.